George Rebane
Today we remember and honor the military service men and women who died for us, and those who have yet to come home. We sent them into harm’s way to keep harm away from us and our loved ones. They went willingly again and again to do the work of war with the belief, and sometimes only hope, that their country was behind them. (continued)
Dear Reader, that was the opening to my last year's Memorial Day post. Since I can't improve on it, I will simply recall your attention to those sentiments which are even more appropriate today.
http://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/25/as-memorial-day-nears-a-single-image-that-continues-to-haunt/?hp
Posted by: Brad Croul | 28 May 2012 at 10:06 AM
Forgive my indulgence, but I wish to thank a soldier I have never met. His name was Dick Creedon. His family name was changed from Creely to Creedon when his grandfather, an Irish tailor in the Royal Household, made the Queen some rather risque attire. When the Queen had her wardrobe malfunction, she ordered her tailor's head on a platter and the Irishman fled to the US and changed his name. Thus bringing us to the story of a soldier named Richard (Dick) Creedon, grandson of a Irish tailor. Dick Creedon was a pacifist in the traditional sense. When he became a soldier in WWI (The Great War) he chose to be a battlefield ambulance driver cause he would not carry a firearm. He drove out to the battlefield under heavy fire and pulled wounded soldiers to safety. He also pulled British soldiers and crossed the battlefield to pull wounded German soldiers off the battlefield as well. It did not matter to him. He was in the War to save lives. Later he took a job on Western Ave in Los Angeles, working in a small flat/office drawing cartoons with a handful of other guys. The company grew and he has the opening credit as the writer of the story Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Always the pacifist. As the Disney company grew, one day there was a strike. Dick stayed with Walt and continued working. When the strike was over, Walt had no choice but to fire those who did not join the union during the strike. Dick Creedon then moved on to Maryland and started a Christian publishing company. Not the best businessman, the publishing company folded and he died broke. I never met this veteran of World War I, but he is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He was a grandfather to 5 boys and two girls, myself included. Thank you to all vets who risked their lives and fought for causes bigger than themselves.
Posted by: billy T | 28 May 2012 at 12:49 PM
When I was in elementary school I lived out in the boondocks off of You Bet Road. My sisters and I took the bus every day to school. Last ones on, last ones off. Grueling for youngins. Our bus driver was a fellow in his thirties or so and over the course of the year we all got to know him a bit. After I moved on to higher ed the fellow was still driving bus and one day I was chatting with him and somehow the topic of military service came up. He kind of offhand mentioned he served in Korea during the war. After a little prompting he said he was at the Chosin Reservoir and was in the "retreat hell, we are just marching in a different direction" bunch of Marines. He was wounded during a massive Chinese attack and he knows he killed many of them. Anyway we became friends over the years and he eventually became the "wine master" at Friar Tucks. Neal was a good guy and a true humble man.
Posted by: Todd Juvinall | 29 May 2012 at 08:27 AM